Recloseable fasteners

ABSTRACT

A recloseable fastener ( 10 ) or zipper of plastics material comprises first and second members ( 12, 20 ) which are profiled ( 18, 24 ) to create a closure by their interengagement. One of the closure members ( 12 ) is provided with an upstanding leg ( 30 ) which projects proud of the closure ( 18, 24 ) when closed. This leg ( 30 ) is positioned close to the closure so that it deflects upon closing of the closure, to enable the consumer to feel that the zipper is closing and then is closed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to recloseable fasteners or zippers ofplastics material where the fastener comprises two profiled closuremembers having respective interengageable profiles. Such fasteners areused for example on bags and other containers of plastics material. Theinvention also includes bags or containers incorporating such fasteners.

When a consumer is closing an opened bag or other container by squeezingtogether the profiles it is not easy to feel whether the zipper isclosing or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved closurewhich gives the consumer a positive feel as the zipper is closed.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a recloseablefastener of plastics material comprising first and second closuremembers which are profiled to create a closure by their interengagement,wherein one of the closure members is provided with an upstanding legwhich projects proud of the closure when closed.

The protrusion is preferably a leg on a flange of one of the closuremembers, positioned close to the interengaged closure. In this way, theleg will deflect upon closing of the closure and will enable theconsumer to feel that the zipper is closing and then subsequently isclosed.

Preferably, the interengageable closure is bounded on each side by anupstanding leg, the leg on one side of the closure bridging the gapbetween respective flanges of the closure members and the leg on theother side of the closure member being the leg projecting proud of theclosure.

Preferably, the projecting leg protrudes by of the order of 0.5 mmbeyond the closure.

In a preferred embodiment the two closure members provide three flanges.

Preferably, one closure member has a single flange extending from theclosure and the other closure member has two flanges extending inopposite directions from the closure, the one of said two flanges whichextends in the direction away from the single flange on the otherclosure member carrying the upstanding leg which projects proud of theclosure.

Desirably, the two flanges which extend in the direction away from theflange which carries the protruding leg are provided with gripping beadson their facing internal surfaces.

In one embodiment, the first and second closure members are respectivelyprovided with male and female profiles which are engageable to form theclosure.

In another embodiment, the first and second closure members are providedwith a double-track engageable closure.

The invention also includes a bag or container of plastics materialincorporating a fastener in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, two presentlypreferred embodiments of recloseable fastener in accordance with theinvention will now be described by way of example and with reference tothe accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of fastener inaccordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of fastener inaccordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the recloseable fastener orzipper is illustrated generally at 10. One of the closure members 12 isprovided with two flanges 14 and 16, extending in opposite directionsfrom a male closure element 18. Flange 16 is designed to be locatedwithin the bag or other container to which the zipper is fitted, andflange 14 is external to the bag or container. The other closure member20 has just one flange 22 which is parallel to flange 14 but is longerthan flange 14. This gives a three-flange zipper. The closure member 20is provided at the inner end of the flange with a pair of hooked femaleclosure elements 24 which engage with the male element 18 to provide themale/female closure. The male/female closure 18, 24 is bounded on eachside by a leg member. In this embodiment both legs are provided onclosure member 12. At the root of flange 14 is an upstanding leg 26 onthe outside of the male/female engaging elements 18, 24. This upstandingleg 26 has a height which is substantially equal to the height of themale and female closure elements. It substantially bridges the gapbetween flange 14 and flange 22 when the zipper is closed. The externalflanges 14 and 22 are provided on their internal faces with linear ribs28 to aid the gripping of the flanges by the consumer when opening thezipper. A colour line 29 is provided on the outside of flange 14.

In accordance with the invention, closure member 12 is additionallyprovided with an upstanding leg 30 at the root of flange 16 which has aheight which is greater than that of the male/female hooked closureelements when closed. As illustrated, it is proud of the outer surfaceof closure member 20 by a height x when the zipper is closed. Theupstanding leg 30 is also positioned close to the male/female closure,i.e. immediately adjacent to the endmost hooked closure element 24 onclosure member 20. The protruding leg 30 is located close to themale/female closure 18, 24 so that it will deflect upon closing of thezipper. This has the effect that upon closing of the zipper the leg 30will both be proud of the closed profile and at the same time move, thusensuring that the consumer is able to feel that the zipper is closingand subsequently has closed. This gives the consumer a positiveindication, by feel, that the zipper has closed.

In a preferred embodiment, where the zipper flanges 14, 16, 22 have athickness of 0.20 mm and the distance y between the outer surfaces ofthe closure members 12, 20 is 2.00 mm, the height x is 0.05 mm. In theillustrated embodiment, flange 14 has a length of 3.00 mm and flange 16has a length of 7.00 mm. The distance from leg 30 to the end of flange22 is 21.00 mm.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, those elements which are the same asin FIG. 1 are indicated by the respective same reference numerals withthe addition of a “dash”. The closure here is a double-track closure, inthat instead of a single-track male/female closure there are providedpairs of interengageable hooked members. Closure member 10′ has twohooked members 32 a, 32 b and closure member 20′ has two hooked members34 a, 34 b, engageable with hooked members 32 a and 32 b. Leg 26 of thefirst embodiment is now provided on closure member 20′ and is indicatedat 36. It bridges the gap between flanges 14′ and 22′. The thickness yof the closure is 1.80 mm in this embodiment. The dimension x is again0.50 mm.

1. A recloseable fastener of plastics material comprising first andsecond closure members which are profiled to create a closure by theirinterengagement, wherein one of the closure members is provided with anupstanding leg which projects proud of the closure when closed.
 2. Afastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the upstanding leg ispositioned adjacent to the closure.
 3. A fastener as claimed in claim 1,in which the upstanding leg is provided on a flange of one of theclosure members.
 4. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which theinterengageable closure is bounded on each side by an upstanding leg,the leg on one side of the closure bridging the gap between respectiveflanges of the closure members and the leg on the other side of theclosure member being the leg projecting proud of the closure.
 5. Afastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the projecting leg protrudes byof the order of 0.5 mm beyond the closure.
 6. A fastener as claimed inclaim 1, in which the two closure members provide three flanges.
 7. Afastener as claimed in claim 6, in which one closure member has a singleflange extending from the closure and the other closure member has twoflanges extending in opposite directions from the closure, the one ofsaid two flanges which extends in the direction away from the singleflange on the other closure member carrying the upstanding leg whichprojects proud of the closure.
 8. A fastener as claimed in claim 7, inwhich the two flanges which extend in the direction away from the flangewhich carries the protruding leg are provided with gripping beads ontheir facing internal surfaces.
 9. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, inwhich the first and second closure members are respectively providedwith male and female profiles which are engageable to form the closure.10. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and secondclosure members are provided with a double-track engageable closure. 11.A fastener as claimed in claim 7, in which the single flange is longerthan the similarly directed flange of the other closure member.
 12. Abag or container of plastics material provided with a recloseablefastener as claimed in claim
 1. 13. A bag or container of plasticsmaterial provided with a recloseable fastener as claimed in claim 7, inwhich the flange carrying the upstanding leg which projects proud of theclosure is secured to that part of the bag which is on the inside of theclosure.